1. Community
  2. General
  3. Chatroom

Access to Records

Posted , 10 users are following.

Bulldoc
Bulldoc

 GP's contracts now include giving their NHS patients access to their basic records (medications and allergies only) by the end of this year, whilst this is a start do you think it is particularly useful when compared to your past medical history and test results?

5 likes, 36 replies

36 Replies

Next
  • orange12933
    orange12933 Bulldoc

    Posted

    I think we should be able to see our basic records but I dont know if it's any help or not.
  • susan342
    susan342 Bulldoc

    Posted

    You have a right to see your all your medical records unless it is deemed they may be harmful to you and they may redact parts if this is the case. However like hospital records you are likely to have to pay a charge related to copying them.  This has been in force for about 20 years. Insurance companies etc often request your GP records after requesting your permission and you are normally given a chance to see  them before they are sent off, many of these historic records are not computerised.

    the move to let patients routinely see their computerised  records in future is useful as you can try and get mistakes corrected.  

    Letters sent by hospitals to GPs often omit facts, get facts very wrong often caused by the change over of junior doctors  the author may never have seen you, their may be mistakes inthe interpretation of dictation etc

    However prior to the legal right of patients to see their records, the language used by clinicians was sometimes disrespectful, they never intended the person to see it.

     

    • derek76
      derek76 susan342

      Posted

      At a pre surgery assessment the anathesitist  said that  the standard of note taking at this hospital is disgraceful.

      I always ask for copies of consultants letters and without fail they have errors and misunderstandings in them.

      In fact for my last referral to a consultant my GP had put down the wrong reason for my referral. I did not realise that until I got the consultants letter.  I actually had to phone his PA to get it and tell them that my GP had not had his copy either.

  • mrsmop
    mrsmop Bulldoc

    Posted

    So that's why some of my GPs have taken to printing off my latest Consultant's letter and giving it to me!

    I don't actually think the GPs read the letters until, and if, I roll up

    • derek76
      derek76 mrsmop

      Posted

      One so called Registrar made so many errors in her letter that my GP wrote to her pointing them out.
    • mrsmop
      mrsmop derek76

      Posted

      I had a little chuckle recently, my Consultant read through some of the letters in my notes and he said there were some appalling letters there!  I had received one from one of his colleagues [also a Consultant, allegedly!] and it had been dictated on one day, typed a fornight later and I received it a fortnight after that. and it was incredibly badly written to boot!
    • derek76
      derek76 mrsmop

      Posted

      I have had a lot like that also letters of referral and consultants letters to my GP that did not arrive. I pointed out mistakes in a cardiology  registrars  letter to my GP that quoted wrong symptoms that he knew that I did not have and that ignored other important points that I had told her. He did write to her but I did not se his letter. I got a brief note from her saying that she would go over my symptoms again at the next appointment. Fortunately I did not get her again and the one higher up the pecking order glanced at my GP's letter when I complained about her but did not comment .

      When I has a preassment appointment with an anesthetist prior to surgery she commented when going through my records that the standard of note taking at this hospital is abysmal. She had a student sitting in with her and told him that she was going to get him to go through patients records before she saw them.

  • peter_a
    peter_a Bulldoc

    Posted

    I would like to go for full access where you mentaly chart your bodies deteroration with such illnesses such as COPD it gives the patient more insight into what is going on and what the doctor has recomended and prescribed over a period of time.  I would expect to be charged for such access and would happily give after all some one's time was taken up by preparing such records.
    • Bulldoc
      Bulldoc peter_a

      Posted

      Interesting I had not considered that GPs might charge for access. GPs will have to provide access to your basic records (only medication and allergies) by April 2015 as part of their contracts with the NHS but I guess they could charge for additional information as they do for paper records.
  • frustrated61
    frustrated61 Bulldoc

    Posted

    Hi Bull ~

    I honestly think it's a great idea.  You'd be amazed how mistakes are caught by viewing your records.  I asked for my daughters records after the doctor she saw since birth. 

    She had pnuemonia and with the xray you could clearly see she had scoliosis and it had been in her records for  5 years and...get this...the doctor had to get an xray and examin it and claim he saw no scoliosis or any other reason that might hinder her with the field she's chosen as far as physical her case, golf.

    He never read the xray report and in the report it said for the parents to take this paitent to a specialist to view her and take care of it before it worsens....So, if I hadn't asked for her records, I'd never know she had that.  So yes, it's important in many ways to keep records of yourself and everyone in your family (kids).

    good luck

    Frustrated

    • Bulldoc
      Bulldoc frustrated61

      Posted

      Frustrated,

      You have illustrated a potential patient benefit but this also reflects why many GPs are reluctant to switch it on. They think it will increase their workload answering queries although there is some limited evidence to refute this and even shows that access to records reduces workload and improves compliance by patients.

      I am unaware of any proven treatments for mild scoliosis but I can see you would have like to have discussed that with your GP at the time. 

      Hope your daughter is enjoying her golf.

      bw

      Bull

    • frustrated61
      frustrated61 Bulldoc

      Posted

      Hello ~

      Regarding the increasing doctor's workload by answering queries, mistakes do happen and it's always good to have more than one pair of eyes double checking.  Checks and balances.  If the doctors take offense to this perhaps that isn't a doctor I would select. 

      I want an open relationship with the doctor.  This open relationship means, I'm paying the doctor, therefore, asking for "permission" to review my records shouldn't even be a problem.  At least in a perfect world, right?

      Take care & be well

      Frustrated

    • frustrated61
      frustrated61 Bulldoc

      Posted

      By the way, Bull, my daughter is so very skilled in golf she puts many accomplished men to shame!  I think it's great! smile  She just has that natural ability to hit the ball and it goes where she wants it to go and her swing...it's a true beautiful swing.  One that I aspired to...not so much anymore. 

      Anyway, my daughter was struggling as to what she is good in...was it art, dance, acting, music, writing etc...she struggled  and her father and I were able to allow her to try all to see what she would like to keep up and one hot sunny afternoon, my colleague and I were planning on golf and I pretty much "made" my daughter come with us.  It was then, and her first time, that I saw so much potential that she took lessons and made it to the varsity team in her freshman year of High School (pretty much unheard of for a freshman).  She was in the top 4 of her school team.  She went on to play for the following three years and each year, because of her dedication and the other three's dedication they made state finals and came in...4th, 2nd and 3rd for her senior year.  Bragging rights for parents, sorry wink

       Wow....did you ever think your kind comment would lead to this!  LOL anyway, thank you.

      Frustrated

  • susan342
    susan342 Bulldoc

    Posted

    Payment for records relates to old records most of which are traditional paper ones. The new computerised ones for care summaries I do not think can be charged for. It should be a simple print out, as opposed to someone physically having to copy them.

     

    • frustrated61
      frustrated61 susan342

      Posted

      Hi Susan ~

      The one reason I mentioned asking for records is it will cut down on one having to stand by the copier and copy...in my case 5 full folders of info.  However, if you go back to find out what a test result was...ask at that time for a copy of what the doctor is reading from.  I also agree that many/or all will be computerized thus making the paper chase a bad memory....but on a positive, many trees will be saved. 

      Anyway, I was involved in a lawsuit from an auto accident I was in, my laywers did ask for all my records...after the lawsuit, my lawyer asked if I wanted those records or they'd have to pay someone to stand over a shredder, thus costing more money.  I told them to give the records to me...I never, ever expected to have almost 10 boxes full of records as they asked for records ...seemed since birth lol it wasn't but jeeeez. 

      One day perhaps it will become secondary to all doctors to include a CD with every result given.  Who knows? 

      I do see a snare in accessing your records online...too tempting for hackers.  I didn't think of that when first posting about thinking it is a good thing to be able to access records.  Even safeguards against hacking isn't fool-proof.

      Warm regards

      Frustrated

Back to top
Next

Report or request deletion

Thanks for your help!

We want the community to be a useful resource for our users but it is important to remember that the community are not moderated or reviewed by doctors and so you should not rely on opinions or advice given by other users in respect of any healthcare matters. Always speak to your doctor before acting and in cases of emergency seek appropriate medical assistance immediately. Use of the community is subject to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and steps will be taken to remove posts identified as being in breach of those terms.